Rail joint



Dec. 30, 1930. R. T. scHoLEs 1,787,089

' RAIL JOINT i A Filed Aug. 5, 1929 I Patented Dec. 30, 193() PATENT OFFICE RICHARD 'I'. SCI-IOLES, OF HINSDALE, ILLINOIS RAIL JOINT Application led August 5, 1929. Serial No. 383,718.

This invention relates tovcertain new and useful improvements in rail joints adapted for connecting the adjacent ends of a pair of rails positioned in alignment to form a por 5 tion of a railway track. f

Thel general object of this invention is to provide a new form of rail joint that will have approximately the same strength and rigidity as asection of the undivided rail.

The best joints heretofore in use have been found to have only a fraction of the strength of the rail itself, the oint being the weak spot in the track. The principal feature of this invention is the employment of a deep and comparatively heavy channel section which encloses the lower portions of the abutting rails and extends a substantial distance along the rails. The end portions of the rails rest upon the base of the channel, and the side 29 flanges of the channel extend up at the sides of the rails so that binding or wedging means may be interposed between these flanges and the sides of the rails to hold the rails firmly in alignment and anchor them in the channel member. Preferably the side flanges of the channel extend above the neutral axis of the rail so that the binding .means may engage beneath the head of the-rail and above the base flange and bear directly outward against one of the side flanges intermediate the points of engagement of the rail.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a new and improved rail joint of the type briefly described hereinabove, and disclosed more in detail in the specifications which follow.

Another object is to provide improved means for clamping the rails rigidly within the channel section.

Another object is to provide improved means for reinforcing the channel section against spreading stresses tending to separate the side flanges of the channel.

Another object is to provide improved r means for insulating the respective rails from the members of the rail oint and from each other.

Another object is to provide improved means for preventing creeping of the rails "0 and consequent separation of the abutting ends, .for use in combination with the proved rail joint. i

@ther objects and advantages of this invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description ofy certainV approved forms of joints involving the principles of this invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is a planview showing a section of traclrway including two aligned rails to which the improved joint is applied, together with the means for preventing longitudinal separation of the rails.

Fig..2 is a transverse vertical section on a larger scale, the view being taken substantially on the line 2*-2 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the reference characters l and 2 designate a pair of aligned rails which are supported by a plurality of spaced ties 3, and secured to certain of these ties by meansof tie-platest and spikes 5, in the usual manner. The main channel members 6 is formed with an intermediate base portion 7 adapted to rest upon a pair of adjacent ties and support the end portions of the two rails, and with similar upwardly extending side flanges 8. kPreferably the channel member is of suflicient depth to have the flanges 8 extend upwardly beyond the neutral axis of the rail. This channel member 6 is preferably of sufficient size and weight so as to have approximately the strength and rigidity of a section of one of the rails. In the preferred form shown in the drawings, -a rolled steel channel is used. With a rolled steel channel, of the type shown in Figs. l and 2, a reinforcing member indicated generally at 9 may be utilized. This member consists of a vertically extending plate por'- tion l0 formed with reinforcing webs or flanges ll extending around its entire outer periphery, the upper portion ofy plate l0 being recessed to form a channel which will t snugly about the main channel member 6. vOne or more of these'reinforcing members may be used, and may be positioned in .the space between the two ties 3 uponr which the channel 6= rests. lt will be apparent that this reinforcing member 9 when in position about the' channel 6 forms a clamp to resist imi modiiied I-beam, and comprises an upwardly and inwardly extendingiiange or arm 13 adapted to engage within the groove formed between the head 14 and web 15 of the rail and with a similar inwardly and downwardly extending flange or arm 16 adapted to engage the groove formed between the web 15 and base flange 17 of the rail. Suitable means are interposed between the joint bars and the adjacent side anges 8 of the channel member, so as to-bind the joint bars firmly in place against the rails. As here shown, a spacer 18 conveniently formed as a bar of H- beam cross section is interposed between one of the joint bars 12 and the adjacent side flange 8, this spacer bearing at one side in the channel 19 formed in the outer face of joint bar 12, and bearing against the side lange S substantially in line with the neutral axis of the rail. Instead of the spacer 18, a pair of overlapping wedge bars 20 and 21 are interposed between the other joint'bar 12 and the adjacent side channel'tlange 8. `It will now be apparent that with the parts assembled as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the joint bars 12 may be lirmly engaged against the rail sections by driving in the two wedge members 20 and 21 so as to securely wedge all of the parts together between the side flanges 8 of the channel. It will be noted that the oint bars press inwardly against the web '-15 and upwardly and downwardly between the head 14 and base llange 17 of the rail, and that the outward stresses are directed against the channel member substantially in line with the rail, so that there is no tendency to force the rail upwardly out of the channel 6, and the parts are' all Vfirmly and securely locked in position. It will be noted'that the use of this form of rail joint does not necessitate the drilling oi any holes in the rails so that the strength of the rail end portions .is not impaired.

When block signal systems are used on the tracks, it isV sometimes necessary to insulate the adjacent rails 1 and 2 from one another, and this form of rail jointV is particularly adapted for this purpose since there are no bolts passing through the rails. For this purpose,.suitable sheets of fiber or other suitable insulating material 22 are interposed between. the upper arms 13 of the joint bars and the head and web of the rail, and other vsheets VVof insulating material 23 are bent Y about the base-anges 17 of the rail so as to be interposed between the lower arms 16 of the base of the rail and the base plate 7 of the channel 6. A sheet or block of insulating material 24 will also be interposed between the abutting ends of the two rails. It will thus be seen that the two rails are completely insulated from one another and do not come in direct contact with any of the meta] members of which the Vrail joint is composed.

Since this form of rail joint is not positively connected with either of the rails, it is desirable that cooperating means be provided to prevent longitudinal separation of the rails, particularly at one of the insulated joints. For this purpose a tie-bar 25 is utilized to hold in permanently spacedrelation a plurality of the adjacent ties 3. In the present example this bar 25 is anchored by means of screw spikes 25Z1 to the two ties upon which the rail joint rests and also to the adjacent pair of ties. Suitable rail anchors 26 are secured to the two rails 1 and 2 in position to bear against this outer pair of ties, thereby preventing creeping of either rail in a direction that would pull it out of the assembled rail joint. It will be noted that the tie-bar 25 does not contact with any of the metallic members, such as the rails or rail anchors, so that the ties themselves form part of the insulation between ythe longitudinally extending assembly comprising the rails and tie-bar.

It will be noted that the end portions of the aligned rails are enclosed by a deep and rigid channel section within which the rails areclamped so that the assembly has approximately the strength and rigidity of an indi- 1.

vidual rail. 'The parts of the joint are easily assembled and disassembled, and many of the parts are interchangeable and reversible so that repairs and replacements ycan be readily and economically made.

I claim: Y

1. A rail joint comprising al rigid one-piece rolled channel section of sullicient length to rest upon at least two adjacent ties and having a base portion adapted to supportthe end portions of the rails, and-having integral side flanges extending upwardly atsubstantially right-angles to thebase at the sides of the rails, joint bars adapted to engage the respec-A tive sides of the rails between the head and Y. base flanges thereof, a spacer interposed between one joint bar and the adjacent side flange of the channel, and wedging means interposed between the other joint bar and the adjacent side flange of the channel.

2. A railjoint comprising a rigid one-piece rolled channel section of suiicient length to rest upon at least two adjacent ties and having a base portion adapted to support the end portions of the rails, and having integral side flanges extending upwardly at substantially right-angles to the base at the sides of the rails, joint bars adapted to engage the respective sides of the rails between the head and base flanges thereof, a spacer interposed ISO iframes between one joint bar and the adjacent side lange of the channel, and a pair of overlapping wedges interposed between the other joint bar and the adjacent side flange of the channel.

3. A rail joint comprising a rigid one-piece rolled channel section of sufficient length to rest on two adjacent ties and having a base portion adapted to support the end portions of the rails, and having integral side flanges extending upwardly substai'itially right vangles to the base at the sides ofr the rails beyond the neutral axis of the rails, joint bars adapted to engage the rails at either side between the head and base ange thereof, and clamping means interposed between the joint bars and. side flanges substantially in line with the neutral axis of the rails.

4. A rail joint comprising a rigid onepiece rolled channel section of sufficient length to rest upon at least two adjacent ties and having a base portion adapted to support the end portions of the rails, having integral side flanges extending upwardly at substantially right angles to the base at the sides of the rails, beyond the neutral axis of the rails, oint bars adapted to engage trie rails at either side between the head and base flange thereof, a spacer interposed between onejoint bar and the adjacent side flange of the channel, and cooperating wedge members interposed between the other joint bar and the other side flange, the joint bars, spacer and wedges being positioned and engaging the channel member and rails substantially symmetrically about the neutral axis of the rails.

5. A rail joint comprising a rigid one-piece rolled channel section of sufficient length to restupon at least two adjacent ties and having a base portion adapted to support the end portions of the rails, and having integral side flanges extending upwardly at substantially right-angles to the base at the sides of the rails, securing means adapted to be engaged between the respective sides of the rails and the adjacent side flanges of the channel. tion, and a reinforcing clamp adapted to engage about the base and side flanges of the channel to stiffen the side flanges and resist the spreading forces.

6. A rail joint comprising a rigid one-piece rolled channel section of sufficient length to rest upon at least two adjacent ties and liaring a base portion adapted to support the end portions of the rails, and having integral side flanges extending upwardly at substantially right-angles to the base at the sides of the rails, beyond the neutral axis ofthe ra ils, joint bai's adapted to engage the rails at either side between the head and base flange thereof, clamping means interposed between the oint bars and side flanges substantially in line with the neutral axis of the rail l and a reinforcing clamp adapted to engage about the base and side flanges of the channel to stiffen the side flanges and resist the spreading forces.

r. A rail joint comprising a rigid onepiece rolled channel section of sufficient length to rest upon at least two adjacent'ties and having a base portion adapted to support the end portions of the rails, and having integral side flanges extending upwardly at substantially right-angles to the base at the sides of the rails, securing means adapted to be engaged between the respective sides of the rails and the adjacent side flanges of the channel section, and a clamp comprising a reinforced plate extending in a vertical plane and formed to engage about the channel to stiften the side flanges thereof. I

8. A rail joint comprising a rigid onepiece rolled channel section of sufiicient length to rest upon at least two adjacent ties and having a base portion adapted to support the end portions of the rails, and having integral side flanges extending upwardly at substantially right-angles to the base at the .ide/s ofthe rails, beyond the neutral axis of the rails, joint bars adapted to engage the rails at either side between the head and base flange thereof, clamping means interposed between the joint bars and side flanges substantially in line with the neutral axis of the rails, and a clamp comprising a reinforced plate extending in a vertical plane and formed to engage about the channel to stillen the side flanges thereof.

9. A rail joint comprising a rigid onepiece rolled channel section of sufficient length to rest upon at least two adjacent ties and having a base portion adapted to sup- Jort the end 1oortions of the rails and having .L 7 c:

integral side flanges extending upwardly at substantially right-angles to the base at the sides of the rails, joint bars adapted to engage the respective sides of the rails between the head and base flanges thereof, sheets'ofl insulating material interposed between the joint bars and the rail sides and between the rail base and the base of the channel, a sheet of insulating material between the abutting ends of the rails, and securing means interposed between the respective joint bars and the adjacent side flanges of the channel.

l0. A rail joint comprising a rigid onepiece rolled channel section of suilicient length to rest upon at least two adjacent ties and having a base portion adapted to support the end portions of the rails, and having integral side flanges extendingupwardly at substantially right-angles to thebase at the sides of the rails beyond the neutral axis of the rails, joint bars of modified I-section adapted to engage the respective sides of the rails at the juncture between the head and web and between the web and base flanges, and

outer channel of each joint bar and the adjacent side flange of the channel section.

11. A rail joint comprising a rigid onepiece rolled channel section of sucient length to rest upon at least two adjacent ties and having a base portion adapted to support the end portions of' therails, and having y integral side flanges extending upwardly at substantially right-angles to the base at the sides of the rails beyond the neutral axis of the rails, joint bars of modified I-section adapted to engage the respective sides of the rails at the juncture between the head and web and between the web andV base flanges, and means adapted to be wedged between the outer channel of each joint bar and the adj acent side flange of the channel section substantially in line with the neutral axis of the rails.

12. A rail joint comprising a rigid onepiece rolled channel section of suficient length to rest upon at least two adjacent ties and having a base portion adapted to support the-end portions of the rails, and having integral side flanges extending upwardly at substantially right-angles to the base at the sides of the rails beyond the neutral axis of the rails, joint bars oil, modified I-section adapted to engagethe respective sides of tne rails at the juncture between the head and web and between the web and base flanges, sheets of insulating materia-ladapted to be bent around each rail base flange and be clamped between the base Vof the channel and the lower arms of the joint bars, sheets of insulating material interposed between the rails and the upper arms of the joint bars, insulating material interposed between the rail ends, and means adapted tobe wedged between the outer channels of the joint bars and the adjacent side flanges of the main channel section. Y

13. A rail joint comprising arigid channel section having a base portion adapted to support the end portions of the rails, and

having side flanges extending Vupwardly at the sides of the rails beyond the neutral axis of the rails, joint bars of modified I-section adapted lto engage the respective sides of the rails at the juncture between the head and web and between the Vweb and base flanges, means adapted to be wedged between the outer channel of each jointJ barand the adjacent side flange -of the channel section, insulating material interposed between the'rail ends and between the joint bars and rails and between the base of the channel section and the rails, and insulating means for preventing longitudinal movement of the two rails. Y

lvl. A rail oint comprising a rigid channel section having a base portion adapted to support the end portions of the rails, and having side flanges extending upwardly at the f y sides of the rails beyond the neutral anis of the rails, joint bars adapted to engage the respective sides of the rails at the juncturebetween the head and web and between the web and base flanges, means adapted to be wedged between the outer channel of each joint bar and the adjacent side flange of the channel section, insulating material interposed between the rail ends and between the joint bars and rails andrbetween the base of the channel section of the rails, a pair of rail anchors, one secured to each rail and engaging one of the supporting ties, and a tie-bar entirely Aout of Contact with the rails and rail anchors and secured to a plurality of adjacent ties including those engaged by the rail anchors.

15. A railjoint comprising a rigid channel section having a base portion adapted to support the end portions of' the rails, and having side `flanges extending upwardly at the sides ofthe rails beyond the neutral axis of the rails, joint bars adapted toengage the respective sides of the rails at the juncture between the head and web and between the web and base flanges, means adapted to be wedged between the outer channel of each joint bar and the adjacent side flange of the channel section, insulating material interposed between the rail ends and between the joint bars and rails and between the base of the channel section and the rails, a reinforcing clamp adapted to berengaged about the base and side flanges of the channel between two of the ties, a pair of rail anchors, one secured to each rail and engaging one of the supporting ties, and a tie-bar entirely out of' contact with the rails and rail anchors and secured to a plurality of adjacent ties including those engaged by the rail anchors.

RICHARD T. 'SGHOLES 

